Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



A. D. PERRY.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented Nov 28 1854.

N PETERS, PMOTOMTMQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

NITED- STATES LATENT 0 FFICE.

A. D. PERRY, OF NEWARK, NEYV JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, A. D. PERRY, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the principle or character which distinguishes it from all other things before known, and of the usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists in the peculiar and effectual mode of closing the breech of the gun after the cartridge has been inserted, providing most effectually against the escape of the gas and the recoil of the breech-piece under the effect of the discharge, thereby obviating one of the principal objections to breech-loading fire-arms.

I am aware that hinged breech-pieces having the axis of rotation in the plane of the rear of the barrel are not new, and also that it is not new to have projecting conical pieces on breech-pieces for breaking the cartridge or concentrating the fire in the center of the powder; and I am also aware that it is not new to have breech-pieces with a circular surface revolving in a corresponding recess in the stock; but I am not aware that a segmental revolving breech-piece like mine has been used in which there is a cylindrical or conical projection on its face to enter the bore of the barrel when the plane surface of the breech-piece is brought up in contact with the rear of the bore of the barrel, and having a circular surface fitting in a corresponding recess at its rear; and it is the combination of these features that constitutes the chief merit of my invention. I have also invented a peculiar combination and an arrangement of parts for the purpose of holding this peculiar breech-piece firmly in-place during the discharge, to be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents the segmentpiece drawn back from the breech in position for loading, and Fig. 2 represents the breech closed by the segment-piece.

The segment-piece a turns upon the center 1) within a slot, 8, in the gun-stock, and has upon its face a projection, 11, to enter and fit the open end of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 2. In the center of this projection is a raised nipple, d, and around this nipple a slight depression, d. The fire from the cap enters the charge through the center of this nipple, and the purpose of this nipple is to concentrate the fire upon the charge in consequence of the nipple being forced slightly within the surface of the end of the cartridge. The segment-piece is worked on and off the breech of the barrel by means of the cam-levers g h and the hand-lever i. The hand-lever is provided with a spring-latch, m, to secure it in place by the catch n. The lever g is jointed to the segment-piece within a slot, in the same, and the lever h is jointed to lever 9 within a slot, in this lever, and the lever h is also jointed to leverz' within a slot, 2", in this lever. There is a notch and projection at h on lever h, which bears upon the end of the lever y when the segment commences to move toward closing the barrel but as the segment advances it will be seen from the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, that lever 9 changes its relation to h, the end of h bearing upon the side of g and pushing its lower end into cavity In in the gunstock. The extremity of 9 bearing upon the side of cavity k is somade and moved as to wedge itself as it advances, and thus forces the segment-piece firmly-against the breech of the band and holds it in place. The parts around and below the projection 19 are cut away, so as to leave room for grit or dirt to fall out of the way of the fitting parts.

The operation of the segment-piece is simple, and from the small number of parts and their relation, arrangement, and operation the work keeps clean and in order.

I have not described or shown the mode of priming or any part of the lock of the arm, they not being essential to the illustration of this improvement, and obvious to those skilled in the art.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming the position of the fulcrum or center of motion as applied to breech-pieces generally nor do I claim a revolving breech-piece, except under an arrangement and combination as hereinabove set forth. Therefore Vhat I do claim as my improvement in breech-loading arms is-- 1. The employment of the revolving segmental breech having its center of motion below and in the line of the face of the breech of the barrel, and a central plug to fit the bore of the barrel, so that when the breechpiece and breech of the barrel are brought tosystem of levers g h i, the recess k in the stock gether thev shall fit, in the manner and for of the arm, in the manner and for the purthe purposes set forth. poses set forth.

2. In combination with said breech-piece, I A. D. PERRY. the levers g h z, arranged and operating as set Witnesses: forth. 'I. CAMPBELL,

3. In combination with said arrangement or G. GAY. 

